Question reference: S6W-03667
- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 11 October 2021
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Current status: Answered by Maree Todd on 26 October 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is regarding reports that access to second-day PCR testing, following arrival into the UK from abroad, is cheaper in England, and what steps it is taking to mitigate any such disparity in affordability between Scotland and England.
Answer
As with the rest of the UK, fully vaccinated travellers arriving into Scotland from non-red list countries are required to take a test no later than the end of day 2 after their arrival. Currently, the test needs to meet a minimum standard which tends to mean that a PCR test is required, although some other tests can meet the standard.
Travellers can choose to purchase a PCR test via CTM, the UK booking portal for international travel, where costs are currently £68 for a day two test and £136 for day two and eight tests, regardless of where a traveller lives in the UK. Alternatively, a traveller can book a test via one of the private providers listed on the gov.uk site. The average cost of these tests are between £55-£65 across the whole of the UK.
From 24 October, fully vaccinated travellers arriving into England from non-red list countries will be able to take a lateral flow test with photo verification for their day 2 test. This will be followed up with a confirmatory PCR test, should they receive a positive result.
We have confirmed we will align with these changes, however we have only recently received details of the proposal from the UK Government and are reviewing these prior to confirming a date for implementation.